HOME | SPORTS MEDICINE STAFF | VISITOR INFO | IMPORTANT INFO & FORMS | SICKEL CELL | CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
Lee University Sports Medicine Department Sickle Cell Policy and Guideline
Following the recommendations of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) and the College of American Pathologist (CAP), the NCAA requires that all division II athletes be tested for the trait or sign a written release declining the test prior to any participation in intercollegiate athletic events, including strength and conditioning, practices, competitions, etc. (Bylaw 17.1.5)
What is “Sickle Cell”?
Sickle Cell Trait is an inherited condition of the oxygen-carrying protein, hemoglobin, in red blood cells. This is a condition affecting less than 3 million Americans.
- Individuals with Sickle Cell Trait have one gene for normal hemoglobin (A) and one gene for sickle hemoglobin (S). This is not a disease and is different from individuals who have Sickle Cell Anemia where two abnormal genes are inherited. Sickle Cell Anemia can cause major health problems. Sickle Cell Anemia is a condition in which the body makes “sickle-shaped” red blood cells, which means they are “C” shaped, whereas normal red blood cells are disc shaped and look like doughnuts without holes in the center. Sickle Cell Trait will not become the sickle cell anemia, however it is possible to have symptoms of the disease under extreme conditions such as physical stress or low oxygen levels.
- Symptoms may include muscle spasm (not cramping); increased pain and weakness in the working muscles (especially the legs, buttocks, and/or low back); soft, flaccid muscle tone; abnormal weakness; undue fatigue; breathlessness; or immediate symptoms with no early warning signs. In extreme cases, people may suffer from blood in urine, spleen damage, and kidney failure which may result in death.
- Sickle Cell Trait is usually benign, but during intense, sustained exercise, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the muscles may cause sickling of red blood cells (red blood cells changing from a normal disc shape to a crescent or “sickle” shape), which can accumulate in the bloodstream and “logjam” blood vessels, leading to collapse from the rapid breakdown of muscles starved of blood.
- Likely sickling settings include timed runs, all out exertion of any type for 2-1 continuous minutes without a rest period, intense drills and other spurts of exercise after prolonged conditioning exercises, and other extreme conditioning session.
- Although Sickle Cell Trait is most predominant in African Americans and those of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Indian, Caribbean, and South and Central American ancestry, persons of all races and ancestry may test positive for the Sickle Cell Trait. While Sickle Cell Trait screening is normally performed on all U.S. babies at birth, many student-athletes may not know whether they have the trait.
Please refer the following resources for more information about Sickle Cell Trait:
